Oriental’s annual Spirit of Christmas unfolds Friday and Saturday, with village businesses, churches, civic groups and local residents celebrating Christmas with decorations on land and on boats, a parade, open houses and entertainment.

The lighting of the Oriental star at the Town Dock is at 5:30 p.m. Friday.

Anyone wanting to have a lighted boat around the Oriental harbor can call Larry Summers at 675-0467.

On Saturday, the theme of the 4 p.m. parade is “White Christmas.” Visit Paul Fairbank at Village Hardware or call 252-249-1211 for parade information or to enter.

There will be luminaria lighting on the streets on Saturday, and volunteers are needed for Tuesday and Thursday advance work.

Folding of the bags is at the Silos on N.C. 55 on Tuesday night at 5:30 p.m. Assembling the bags and candles and weights is set for the Southeast Pamlico Volunteer Fire Department on Straight Road at 2 p.m. Thursday. Call Marsha Paplham at 249-0334.

At 2 p.m. Saturday, there will be a Live Nativity at the Oriental United Methodist Church by young actors in town.

Oriental’s History Museum will sell fresh mistletoe to support the museum.

Here are some of the other top events this week:

The Craven Community Concert Band offers its first concert of the season in the Grover C. Fields Performing Arts Center at 7 p.m. tonight under the direction of Joe Olivieri.

The program will feature hymns, marches and music from movies. Also, there will be some Christmas carols to help everyone get into the spirit of the season.

The concert is free and begins at 7 p.m. It is about an hour and 15 minutes.

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The North Carolina Symphony “Holiday Pops” concert is Tuesday night at the New Bern Riverfront Convention Center.

Led by Resident Conductor William Henry Curry, the concert is at 7 p.m. Tickets are $40 general admission. Purchase tickets online at ncsymphony.org or through the North Carolina Symphony Box Office at 877-627-6724. Also, call the New Bern Riverfront Convention Center at 637-1551 or visit the Convention Center Box Office on the night of the concert.

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Tryon Palace’s Fresh from the Past Movie Night series presents “Chocolat” on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. in the Waystation auditorium, across from the main gate at Pollock and George streets.

According to the Palace, the film “tells the story of a single mother and her 6-year-old daughter moving to rural France to open a chocolate shop —with Sunday hours. With a church located across the street, the shop is certainly met with some skepticism. But as soon as they coax the townspeople into enjoying their delicious products, they are warmly welcomed.”

Admission is free, and seating is first-come, first-serve.

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Tryon’s Tales for Tots: “Twas the Night Before Christmas” is Wednesday at the N.C. History Center.

The 11 a.m. program includes a visit to the John W. Stanly house to learn how the Stanly family celebrated Christmas. Preschoolers will play a popular game of the season and decorate miniature edible Twelfth Night cakes. Tickets are $6 per child with one accompanying adult free; additional adults $6, or included with regular admission

This program is designed for ages 3-5, with parental accompaniment and space is limited to 20 children. For reservations, call 639-3500

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Craven Community College’s troupe of singing ambassadors “Encore!” presents its holiday program at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Bank of the Arts on Middle Street in New Bern.

Tickets for the 6 p.m. concert are $5, with proceeds benefiting the Craven Arts Council and Gallery.

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The 2d Marine Aircraft Wing Band’s 2013 Christmas Concert is free Friday night at the Cherry Point Station Theatre, Roosevelt Boulevard at Second Avenue, in Building 194.

The 7 p.m. concert is under the direction of CW04 Benjamin Bartholomew.

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The monthly downtown New Bern ARTcrawl is Friday. It starts at 5 p.m. and showcases of art exhibits, live performances and artisan demonstrations. It is a presentation of the Community Artist Will.

For a map and details, visit on the web: communityartistwill.com/artcrawl.html, call Lisa Bisbee-Lentz at 649-1712 or email communityartistwill@gmail.com.

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The Eastern North Carolina bluegrass Association will have a Christmas show Saturday at Lenoir Community College in the Waller Building in Kinston.

The groups includeSamantha Casey and the Bluegrass Jam,Ted Jones and the Tar Heel Boys and The Boys from Carolina. Tickets are $7 at the door, children 12 and under are admitted free. Call 244-0712.

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Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill and Bar and Relay For Life of Craven County will host a Flapjack Fundraiser on Saturday.

The event is at 3450 Martin Luther King Blvd. in New Bern at 7:30 a.m. Tickets are $7. Call Latasha Roberson at 497-1814. Breakfast includes a short stack of pancakes, sausage and beverages.

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Tryon Palace’s “Seasons of Delight: A Candlelight Masquerade” is Saturday from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Palace and the N.C. History Center.

A second Candlelight event is Dec. 21.

According to the Palace, this 18th-century candlelit celebration will surprise Tryon Palace visitors with a new perspective on holidays, both past and present. It features costumed performers, magicians, daring feats of skill and agility, dancing and a rare glimpse of the Governor’s Palace by candlelight.

Both nights include Tryon Palace’s traditional Jonkonnu celebration of music and dancing just outside the Palace gates, as well as a performance by the Fife and Drum Corps. Other performers include Levram the Great on Saturday, the Pickled Circus Brothers on Dec. 21 and Signora Bella the SlackRope Walker on both nights.

As always, the celebration comes to a spectacular end each night with black powder fireworks display on the South Lawn.

Tickets will be sold for specific tour time slots and are good for evening activities only. Tickets are at the Tryon Palace Ticket Desk in the N.C. History Center on South Front Street.

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Bear Hands Art Factory’s Kids’ Painting Club will present “Paint a Snowman” on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. at the 1208 Pollock St. studio.

Children will paint their own unique snowman on canvas, with all materials included. It is for children ages 6 and older. Admission is $20.

The hustle will offer several run options including the Jingle Bell Jog 5k, Tinsel 10k and the 1 Mile Santa’s Family Fun Run. It begins at 8 a.m. with the theme, “Giving Kids a Running Start!”

On the web: cravensmartstart.org. Call 636-3198.

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The Christmas Lights Tour of the Trent River aboard the Crystal Coast Lady is Saturday from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

The Crystal Coast Lady is located at the New Bern Grand Marina Dock F. Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for children under 12.

Call 728-7827. On the web: crystalcoastlady.com.

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The third annual Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser for MERCI Clinic is Saturday morning at Morgan’s in New Bern.

It begins at 6:45 a.m. and continues until 10 a.m. The goal is to serve 600 people. There are unlimited refills on breakfast plates. The plate includes three buttermilk pancakes, maple syrup, three slices of bacon, two sausage links and fresh cut fruit.

Tickets are $7.50 in advance and $10 at the door. Tickets are available from any cast member, the Bank of the Arts and on the web: NewBernBallet.com.

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Christ Episcopal Church will hold its 15th Annual Cookie Walk on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Ministry Center on Middle Street in New Bern. There are 12,000 cookies, along with crafts and festively wrapped food gifts. Enjoy breakfast or lunch at the Cookie Walk Café while listening to the music of the Middle Street Moods.

Proceeds support Outreach Ministries.

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“The Holly and The Ivy” Holiday Homes Tour is Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

It is the New Bern Woman’s Club’s major fundraiser of the year. Historic district homeowners open their festively decorated homes.

Tickets are $15 in advance and $18 the day of tour. They are at the Bank of the Arts and at Harris Teeter. Credit card phone orders can be made by calling 638-2577. For information, call Anne Harman at 638-3623.

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The New Bern Area Chamber of Commerce will host the 2nd annual Bernie’s Beary Merry Mistletoe March on Saturday from 1:30 to 5 p.m.

It is held in conjunction with the Beary Merry Christmas festivities as coordinated by the New Bern Chamber’s Downtown Council. The presenting sponsor is Coastal Children’s Clinic. The children’s parade goes through downtown from the Chamber’s back parking lot to New Bern Civic Theatre.

The grand marshals are WCTI-TV news anchor Jaime McCutcheon and her daughter, Georgia.

The procession begins at 2 p.m., with character sightings along the way, including Bernie Bear, Santa Claus and the Grinch.

Refreshments and activities are planned at the theater, along with the movie “Polar Express” at 3:30 p.m.

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The Bear City Opry’s second Christmas show is Saturday night at the Masonic Theatre on Hancock Street in New Bern.

The doors open at 6 p.m. and the music begins an hour later for both performances.

Tickets are $15 in advance and $18 at the door, with children under age 12 admitted for $5.

Advance tickets are available at Hearne’s Jewelers and Fuller’s Music in New Bern. For more information, call 670-7082.

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“Christmas Snow Sledding & Shopping in Downtown New Bern” is Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. at the corner of Craven and South Front streets.

There are a variety of activities for the young and old. Bring a canned good for Religious Community Services.

It is a production of the New Bern Area Chamber of Commerce’s Downtown Council, sponsored by Chesnutt, Clemmons & Peacock, P.A.

On the web: bearymerrychristmas.com. Call 671-1196.

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The Annie Moses Band performs in concert Sunday at Temple Baptist Church in New Bern.

The band just released its debut album titled “Pilgrims and Prodigals.” The New Bern show is at 7 p.m. Tickets are $25 and $10.

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Tickets are available for Handel’s “Messiah” on Dec. 16 at Centenary United Methodist Church in New Bern.

There is an open rehearsal at 3 p.m. and a 7:30 p.m. performance.

Tickets for the open rehearsal are $15 and $20 for the evening performance.

Tickets are available at Fuller’s Music on Trent Road and the Bank of the Arts on Middle Street.

Buy tickets with a credit card by calling 638-2577. On the web: cravenmessiahchorus.org. Call 866-292-4192 for information.